Earth moving device



- Nov. 22, 1938. E; w. AUSTIN# EARTH MOVING DEVICEl Filed Sept. 1,'19341 ir 3 M .n

Nov. 22, 1938. E.\w. AUSTIN EArt'l'h MOVING DEVICE Filed Sept. l, .1.9544 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 22, 1938. E. w. AUSTIN EARTH MOVING 'DEVICE FiledSept. 1, 1934 4 Sheecs--Sheet 5 Nov. 22, 1938.` E. w. AUSTIN 137329,

EARTH MOVING DEVICE Filed sept. 1-, 1934 44 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Nov.22, 1938 UNITED sTaTEs PATENT oFFlcE Company, Incorporated, CedarRapids, Iowa, a corporation ofDelaware Application September 1, 1934,Serial No. 742,368

12 Claims.

My invention relates to earth moving devices and has particular relationto a means for adjustably securing a scraper blade, a plow, or the liketo a tractor, a wagon, or other prime mover and for operating andactuating the blade.

f It is a common expedient to mount a scraper blade, a plow blade or thelike on a Lframework which is pivotally attached to a tractor with theblade in front of the tractor and to actuate the blade by power meansassociated with the. tractor. I have observed that such supporting andactuatingmechanism are not always satisfactory for the reason that partof the actuating mechanism is mounted on the tractor itself and thereactive forces set up by the hydraulic jack or other power means causestilting of the tractor on its supporting springs, which action isobjectionable and which may even lead to broken springs and otherinjuries to the tractor and other parts. I have observed also that whenone Vof the running gears of the tractor passes over an obstruction theblade is jerked into the air. The actuating mechanisms were Afrequentlylocated at disadvantageous positions as regards loading leverages andminimum interference with operation. Furthermore the structures arecomplicated and expensive to construct and maintain. I have observedalso thatthe blade mountings are not always satisfactory for the reasonthat the blade is not readily adjustable to vary the depth and angle ofcut and to throw thematerial to one side or the other as desired. Thedevices of the prior art have been found to vary the depth and angle ofcut vunder load.

I have therefore devised a new and improved blade supporting andactuating mechanism which overcomes the difficulties above enumerated,which is extremely simple in construction and operation, and which isentirely supported on the sub-frames of the tractor-where it cannotdisturb the equilibrium of the tractor itself. I

have devised means for mounting the actuating mechanism well forward onthe `tractor subframes where it is out of the way and Where it can exertproper leverage without undue loading or disturbance.

I have also devised a new and improved mount-- ing for scraper bladesand the like, which permits adjustment of the blade at several angles of-incidence with respect to the ground', which permits adjustment of theblade to throw the -material to the right or the left as desired, andwhich permits tilting of the blade from side to side in all positions ofthe blade. The construction of the blade-attaching means is simple andments of the invention, with the understanding,

sturdy, and the positiony of the blade will not vary under load.

Some of the general objects lof my invention I are to provide a new andimproved means for attaching a scraper blade, a plow, or the like t'o atractor or other prime mover, and to provide a new supporting,operating, and actuating means for controlling the movements of theblade or plow.

An object of my invention is to provide a blade supporting and actuatingmechanism which is mounted on the sub-frame of the tractor where theforces set up will not materially disturb the equilibrium of thetractor.

Another object of my invention is to provide an attaching means forAattaching a scraper blade or the like to a tractor to permit adjustmentof the blade to vary the angle of incidence with regard to the ground,to permit tilting ofthe blade, and to permit the blade to be swung abouta vertical axis to throw material to the right or left as desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for mounting theactuating means well forward on the sub-frames of the tractor and toprovide mounting means which permit movement of the parts of the tractorrunning gear.

Another object of my yinvention is to provide means for mounting theplow actuating means on moving parts of the tractor sub-frames, sincethis location furnishes a convenient forward location and permitstransmission of the various stresses directly to the track.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for compensating forunequal vertical movement of the running gears of the tractor.

Another object of my invention is to provide operating and attachingmeans of the above description which are simple and rugged inconstruction and reliable and steady in operation.

'Other and further features and objects of my invention will be moreapparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of theaccompanying drawings and following specification, wherein is disclosedseveral exemplary embodihoweve'r, that such changes may be made thereinas fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. The device may be used or adapted for usefor other purposes.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a iront quartering view in perspective showing a plow bladeand plow blade actuating means constructed according to one embodimentof my invention as they appear when attached to a tractor.

Figure 2 is a rear quartering view in perspective of the plow supportingand actuating mechanism shown in Figure 1 as it appears when removedfrom the tractor.

Figure 3 is a detailed view in perspective of one end of the plow orscraper blade showing the means for attaching one of the side frames toone end of the scraper blade and for attaching one of the actuatinglevers to one end of the blade.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of a modied form of the meanswhereby a portion of the plow actuating mechanism supports are mountedon the tractor.

Figure 5 is a view in'perspective showing the means illustrated inFigure 1 whereby the plow actuating mechanism supports and the ends ofthe side frames are mounted on the tractor subframes.

Figure 6 is afview in perspective showing how the hydraulic jacks andportions of the plow actuating levers ar'e mounted on the plow actuatingmeans supports.

Figure 'l is a view in perspective showing the parts of an adjustablepush pole constructed according to one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 8 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation ofthe\hydraulic jack and its mounting. These parts are also shown inFigures 1, 2, and 6.

Figure 9 is a plan view showing how the plow blade is attached to thefront end of the plow supporting structure and how the plow actuatingmechanism is engaged with the plow supporting structure.

Figure 10 is a view in side elevation illustrating how the end of theplow blade is secured to the end of the push pole when the blade is inthe bulldozing position.

Figure 11 is a view in side elevation showing how the outer end of theplow blade is secured to the end of the push pole when the blade is inthe trailbuilding position.

Figure 12 is a view in perspective showing a modied form of actuatingmechanism and its supporting structure.

Figure 13 is a view in perspective of still another modied form ofactuating mechanism and supporting structure, and

Figure 14 is a partial view in perspective showing a sub-frame and theiixed and movable portions of the sub-frame covers.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 9,and 14 thereof, there is shown at I0 generally a tractor of the usualtype employing a pair of crawler treads Ii, one on` each side of thetractor, which rotate on sprocket wheels i2 and I2a, the wheels I 2being driven by the motor of the tractor in accordance with the usualpractice. The wheels I2 and I2a are mounted on sub-frames I3 inaccordance with the usual practice. The subframes i3 include channels i4on which wheel bearings i6 and IBa are mounted, and sloping reinforcingor cover members I1 and I1a, which are mounted on top of the channelsi4. The cover members I1a and their wheels I2a and wheel bearings i6aare slidable longitudinally on the beams i4 and covers I1 to permitrocks and the like to pass between the sprocket wheels and the treadsand totake up slack in the treads. Track roller guards il depend fromthe channels i4 all in accordance with the usual practice.

For the purpose of facilitating a description of the device I havearbitrarily divided the parts of the structure here shown asillustrating my invention into ilve groups. The groups may be said tocomprise the plow 2i, the plow supporting structure 22, the plowactuating mechanism 23, which also assists in supporting the plow andplow supporting mechanism, the plow actuating means supporting structure24 and the hydraulic actuating mechanism and system 26. There areseveral modifications of the plow supporting structure and of the plowactuating structures shown in the drawings and hereinafter described.'I'he rst plow supporting structure is vshown more particularly inFigures 1, 2, and 3 and this plow supporting structure affords asubstantially rigid connection between the plow and plow supportingstructure, which is adapted to hold the plow blade in a right angled"bulldozing position in front of the tractor. The plow blade may beraised and lowered by the actuating mechanism but is not, in thisembodiment of the invention, adapted for movement from the bulldozingposition. In a modied form of the plow supporting mechanism shown more.particularly in Figures 7, 9, and 10 the plow blade Vis adapted to bemaintained in two trailbuilding positions to discharge material to theright or the left as desired, or in the right angled bulldozingposition. In Figures 12 and 13 modified forms of the actuating mechanismare shown. The blade may be tilted forward and back as desired and maybe tilted about its transverse axis while in any one of thetrailbuilding or bulldozing positions so that one side is lower than theother as for use in crowning" a road or the like.

The plow or scraper blade 2i is `of built-up construction and iscomprised of a curved front y plate3l so shaped, in accordance with theusual practice, as to roll the dirt over and over upon itself, and arear plate 32, rough of shallow U-shape, which affords bracing for thefront plate. The plates 3| and 32 are joined by a cutting edge or shoe33 of abrasive resistant steel. This cutting edge is secured to theplates 3l and 32 in any suitable manner as by means of bolts 34. Theplates 3| and 32 are braced at the ends by means of end plates 36 and36a and these plates are, of course, disposed at right angles withregard to the planes of the plates. A pair of heavy brackets 31 arewelded or otherwise secured to the rear face of the plate 32 at oppositeends thereof. The structures I am about to describe are, of course, induplicate, one on each side of the plow, except that they arecomplementary to each other.

The brackets 31 are comprised of pairs of rearwardly and horizontallyextending plates 38 and 39 braced by gussets 4I. A plurality of openings42 and 43 are provided in the plates 33 and 39 in order that side framefront end castings 44 may be secured to the brackets 31 as by means ofpins 46. Shoes 5l, in the general form of runners are secured tosuitable downwardly and rearwardly projecting flanges 52 on the lowerside of the plates 39, as by means of bolts 53 which pass through pairsof upwardly projecting flanges 54 on the runners or shoes and throughthe downwardly and rearwardly projecting flanges on the plate 39. Twopairs of openings 55 are provided in each of the upwardly projectinganges 54 of the shoes in order that the shoes may be secured in eitherone of two positions, that is a lowered position so as to raise theblade above the ground, and a raised position so as to permit it toapproach closer to the ground.

The plow blade supporting structures 22 include pivot bearing plates 56which are bent at slight angles so that the lower part of the plates mayengage the beams I4 of the sub-frames of the tractor and the upperportions may engage the sloping cover plates I1 which are located abovethe beams I4. The pivot vbearing plates 56 may take the form shown inFigure 4, in which the plate is adapted to engage pads or plates 51,which in turn are engaged to the beams I4 and may be bolted in place bythe bolts 5B and nuts 59 shown, or may be secured in any desired manner.The pivot bearing plates 56, shown in Figure 4, are provided withnotches 60 at their upper edges and slots 6I in the upper portion of theplates to facilitate engagement of the plates on the-covers I1. In thisform of the device bosses 62 are provided at the lower verticallyextending portionsof the plates 56 and these bosses are adapted toreceive stub shafts such as the shafts 63. shown in Figure 5.

In the form of plates shown in Figure 4 the upper slanting portions ofthe plates are provided with upwardly and outwardly projecting brackets64 and the end of the brackets 64 are formed with sleeves or ,muffs 65adapted to receive rearwardly projecting portions 84h of the supportingplates of the blade actuating supporting members 84. These portions ofthe device will be hereinafter more particularly described.

In the form of the device shown in Figure 5 the pads or plates 51 aredispensed with and the plates 56a are provided with inwardly projecting,

flanges 66 which are adapted to engage upwardly and outwardly extendingportions or flanges 4o f the beams I4. The flanges 66 are adapted to besecured to the beams I4, as by means of set screws El'. Of course theflanges 66 may be so formed as to engage any other part of the beams.The plates 56a are provided with bosses corresponding to the bosses 62,which are adapted to receive the stub shafts 63. The upper portions ofthe plates 55a are the same as the plates 56 shown in Figure 4 exceptthat instead of the brackets 64 short horizontally and outwardlyextending stub shafts 66 are provided in the upper portion of theplates. The stub shafts 56 are adapted to receive pairs of links 69which constitute clevislike members adapted to receive rearwardlyextending portions of the plow actuating mechanism support devices 84,as hereinafter more particularly described.

Somewhat similar plates 56h are provided for the inner downwardlysloping portions of the covers I1 and these plates 56h are fastened tothe covers I1 in any suitable manner. The plates 56D are provided withinwardly and horizontally extending bosses adapted to receive shorthorizontally and inwardly extending stub shafts upon which another pairof links 6911 are received. These plates, of course, are complementaryto the plates 56a and are likewise adapted toireceive rearwardlyextending portions 84c of the plow actuating means supportingstructures.

The plow blade supporting structures 22 'include pairs of side framesmounted one on'each side of the tractor. Each of these side framesinclude brackets 1I. These brackets have pairs of rearwardly extendingears 12 andthe brackets are so formed between these ears as to receivebox-like stub shafts 63. The bearings are locked in place by means ofpins 13 which pass downwardly bearings which in turn receive the throughsuitable openings in the ears 12. The front ends of the brackets 1I arecored to receive long cylindrical members or tubes 14 which constitutethe main portions of the side frames. These portions 14 of the sideframes are preferably made of heavy seamless tubing, but of course canbe manufactured of any suitable material and in any suitable form. Thebrackets 1I are preferably offset or cranked between the ears 12 and thecored portions 16 so that in one position of brackets 1I the centralaxes of the tubes 14 are slightly below the axes of the stub shafts 63,and in a 180 reversed position of the brackets the central axes of thetubes 14 are above the central axes of the stub shafts 63. In thismanner the center of the lines of force or thrust of the side framesagainst the shafts 63 may be disposed .above or below the shafts asdesired in accordance with the character of the material being moved bythe device and according to whether it is desired to give more or lesstilt to the plow blade about its longitudinal axis. In this way, theangle of incidence of the blade with the ground may be varied. v

The brackets 44 at the front ends of the tubes 14 have already beenmentioned. These front side frame brackets 44 are provided with pairsvof forwardly and horizontally extending ears provided with suitableopenings therein adapted to receive the pins 45 and to be receivedbetween the flanges 3B and 39 of brackets 31. Rearwardly extending arms11 afford, with bosses 18 Von the inner sides of the brackets 44, ameans of attachment of clevises 19 which form a part of the actuatingmechanisms 23. The clevises 19 are secured to the bosses 18 and tosuitable enlarged portions at the outer end of the arms `11 by means ofpins 8I.- The brackets 44, of course, are provided with suitable cuppedor cored members 82' in the rear thereof to receive the front ends ofthe tubes 14.

Pairs of .rub irons 83 are provided on the inner sides of the tubes 14at points intermediate their lengths and these rub irons are adapted tobear against the outer faces of the plates 84 which constitute portionsof the plow actuating means supporting structures. The side plates 84are secured to covers I1a by means of bolts 90 or the like which engagethe plates to pads B5. The rub irons therefore afford, with the sideplates 84, a means for meeting the side thrusts set up in the plow bladesupporting structure.

It is apparent that the plow blade structure 2I is rigidly attached tothe front ends of the side frames of the plow blade supporting structure22, on either side of the tractor and that the side frames are in turnpivotally engaged to the subframes of the tractor on either side thereofso that the plow blade may be pivoted about on the stub shafts 63 for upand down movement. The mechanism. for securing this up and down movementwill now be described.

The actuating means supporting structure 24 preferably includes twopairs of complementary plates 84 placed with a pair on either side oftheV tractor and with the two plates of each pair placed one on eitherside of the respective treads Il, with one set of plates engaged on theouter sub-frame beams I4 and another pair placed on the inner sub-framebeams which are complementary to the beams I4 shown.

The plates 84 are roughly triangular in shape with the apex vof thetriangle fastened to the outer faces of castings I1a by means ofdownwardly projectingportions 84a of the plates 84. 75

These downwardly projecting portions are bolted to pads 85 which aresecured in place on vcastings ||a, which castings are longitudinallyslidable on beams |4. The castings Ila are made slidable longitudinally,in accordance with vthe usual practice, in order that rocks and the likewhich may become caught betweenv the sprockets and the treads may passbetween these parts and in order that wear in the treads may becompensated for. The structure is best illustrated in Figure 14. Sometypes of tractors are not equipped with parts of this character and inthis case the plates 84 are fastened directly to the sub-frames.

The uppermost corners of the plates are joined by means of rods 86 heldin place by nuts 8T. Angle levers or bell cranks 88 are pivotallyjournaled upon the rods 86 and the plates are spaced apart by sleeves 89which are preferably welded at their ends to the plates. Intermediateportions of the upper edges of the plates 84 are spaced apart by meansof box-like structures or cradles 9|, and these box-like structures haveshort laterally-extending stub shafts or trunnions 02 which arepivotally engaged within suitable bosses 93 on the outer faces of thepairs of plates 84. Rearwardly projecting portionsof the plates 84,which may be termed torque arms, are pivotally engaged to the links 69and 69h as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and more particularly in Figure5. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the rearwardly extendingportions 84D of the plate 84 terminate in rods or torque arms ofsubstantially rectangular cross-section which are adapted to be receivedwithin the muffs 65 and which may slide back and forth within the muifs.These structures are best illustrated in Figure 4. It may readily beunderstood that if the torque arms 84c of the plates 84 are connected tothe plates 56 by means of links, the torque arms will pivot about inarcs the approximate centers of which are the axes of the shafts 68,while if they are engaged by the muff structures 65 they will move insubstantially straight lines. It is of advantage that the torque armsmove in straight lines so as to interfere as little as possible withmovement of the castings lla, but there is sufficient play between thecastings Ila and beams I4 to permit the torque arms to move in arcs.

The plates 84 may be considered as bell cranks or levers which, byreason of the play between the movable and fixed parts of thesub-frames, pivot about on the connection between these parts. Thetorque arms 84e Yor 84h constitute one set of bell crank arms while theupper portions of the plates 84,' to which the jacks and bell cranks 88are fastened, lconstitute the other set of arms. The torque arms 84'c or84b may be considered as links or levers connecting the movable frontand fixed rear portions of the sub-frames of the tractor and these linksmove relative to the mam partof'the track sub-frames. This analysis ofthe structure will become more apparent in consideration of Figures 12and 13 which are hereinafter discussed.

There is very little movement of the torque arms of the plates 84 withreference to the plates 56 but a certain amount of movement does existIand preferably is met in one manner or another as described.

The box-like structures 9| consist of a rectangular member 94 whichforms four sides, that is, top and bottom and two ends, of thestructure. One open side of the cradles 9| is adapted to be closed bymeans of plates or cylinder heads 96. Bolts 91 are welded to the innerfaces of the boxlike members 94 and project through suitable openings inthe plates 96. The plates 96 themselves form the heads for closing oneend of the cylinders 98 of the hydraulic jacks (Figure 8) and thecylinders 98 have a plurality of bolts 99 welded t6 the outer facesthereof at one end of each of the' cylinders. These bolts projectthrough suitable openings in the plates 96 and the plates are secured onthe ends of the cylinders 98 by means of nuts |0|. The plates 96 areprovided with centrally-located bossesl |02 and are @drilled to receivethe shafts |03 of the hydraulic jacks and |00a. Suitable packing glands|04 together with the usual packing material \-|06 are employed to sealthe openings through the plates 96. I preferably provide a dust wiperforthe shafts |03 comprising felt or like material `4.05 encircling theshafts and held in place by thrcup-like caps ||0. The dust wipers arepreferably mounted on the packing glands |04. The shafts |03 areprovided with clevises |0`| at the free ends thereof. The plates orheads 96 are provided. with openings |08 therethrough and these openingsare threaded to receive pipe connections |09.4 The 'opposite heads arealso provided with suitable openings ||2 therethrough and the walls ofthese openings are threaded to receive second angled pipe connections|3. When oil or other fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinders98l through the pipe connections ||3 the pistons ||4 are of coursedriven to the other ends of the cylinders, the oil on the other side ofthe pistons ||4 being allowed to flow out through the pipe connections|09. Conversely, if the pipe connections ||3 are open to permit oil toflow-from the cylinders and oil under pressure is conducted into thecylinder` through the connections |09 the pistons will move back totheir original positions.

It is to be observed that, by reason of the front end bearing of thecradles 9| in the plates 84, the hydraulic jacks may swivel about on thestub shafts 92. The clevises |01 are connected, as by means of pins ||5,to one arm 88a of the bell cranks 88. The other arms 88h of the bellcranks 88 are connected by means of pins ||6 to long clevises 'I'heseclevises ||1 are provided with cylindrical portions ||8 adapted toreceive rods ||9. These rods ||9 are provided with nonremovable heads|2| which are located within the arms of the clevises and which preventthe rods ||9 from being pulled out of the clevises. The rods I9 may moveupwardly in the cylindrical portions ||8 of clevises and the heads |2|move upwardly between the arms Il'l so that the overall length of theentire connecting links may be shortened. Springs |22 are disposed onthe rods ||9 and bear against the ends of the cylindrical portions ||8of clevises I |1 and against a clevis 19 on the lower end of rod |'9.The springs |22 serve to absorb. shock imparted to the connecting linksby upward movement of the plow blade, as for instance in striking astone.

The rod clevis 19 is secured to the bracket 44 by bell cranks 88. bypushing the crank arms 88a 75 forwardly, to thusraise the arms 88h,which in turn pull upwardly on the links to raise the plow blade. Iffluid under pressure is introduced into the hydraulic jacks through thepipe conduits |09 and the fluid is permitted to flow out of the cylinderat the other'or rear end through the conduits ||3 the plow blade will belowered. The supply of fluid for operating the hydraulic jack ispreferably carried in a supply tank |23 located at the rear ofthe`tractor and the iiuid is conducted to a hydraulic pump (not shown)at the rear of the tractor near tank |23 in accordance with the usualpractice and the fluid from the pump under pressure Ais conducted bymeans of conduits |24 and |26 tola control valve |21. The pump may berotated by any suitable connection with the motor of the tractor and thev flow of fluid to and from the hydraulic jack |00 'is controlled bymeans of the hydraulic valve one or the other ends of the hydraulicjacks and will cause the fluid from the jacks and from the pump to flowback into the tank |23 when desired.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown the fluid from the pumpmay be selectively directed into either the conduit |28 or the conduit|29. Part of the fluid flowing into the conduit |28 is directed by meansof the pipe and hose connections |3| to the conduit ||3 and into jack|00. The remaining fluid discharged into the pipe |28 is conducted bythe pipe |32 to the pipe and hose connections |33 by conduits |32 andfrom the hose connections |33 into the conduit ||3 and into thehydraulic jack |0001.. It is to be observed that the conduits |3| and|33 are connected at all times by the conduit |32 and that in thismanner the rear portions of the hydraulic jacks |00 and |00a. are alwaysconnected to thereby equalize the pressure in the jacks |00 and |00a.

When fluid is discharged from the pump into the conduit |29 a part ofthe uid is conducted to the front end of the jack |00 by means of theconduit |34 and the remaining part of the fluid is .conducted to thejack |00a by means of the conduit |36 and pipe and hose connections |31.

The construction and operation of the valve |21 is' such that when uidis being discharged from the pump into the conduit |28 the conduit |29is connected with a relief or discharge conduit |38 which leads back tothe supply tank |23, thereby permitting the pistons in jacks |00 and|00a. to move-forward.- When the valve |21 is moved to another positioniluid is, discharged into the conduit |29 and is conducted/to the frontends of jacks |00 and |0011.. The valveis so constructed that when thevalve is in this latter position fluid in the rear vendsof the jacks |00and |00a may be discharged through the conduit |28, through the controlvalve, and through the discharge conduit |38 to tank |23. The valve isconstructed in such a manner that when fluid is not discharged intoconduits |28 or |29, or when there is an excess pressure against thesystems and the hydraulic jacks, fluid may be led back into the supplytank |23 by conduit |38. The

-valve is also preferably constructed in such a manner that the portsleading to the hydraulic jacks may be closed oi so that the hydraulicjacks are locked in position to lock the plow blade in position. A valvestructure for the purpose outlined ismore particularly described inPatent No. 1,974,657 to Waldo E. Rodier. Even when the It may readily beunderstood from the pre- 5 ceding explanation that the operator isenabled to move the plow blade up and down as desired. The operator maylock the plow blade in place as Y for making a cut, or may permit theblade to seek its own level as for making a ll or leveling offy a 10roadway or the like.

It is apparent that the entire load of the plow and the plow supportingand plow actuating mechanisms is carried on the sub-frames of thetractor. In`this way undue loading of the springs, 15 by which thetractor is supported on the vsubframes, is entirely avoided.Furthermore, the reactive forces of the jacks are also carried to thesub-frames and do not tend to disturb the equilibrium of the tractor. 20

The p low blade and plow blade supporting structures so far describedare adapted only for bulldozing or like operations where the plow bladeVor scraper is located at right angles to the longitudinal axis of thetractor. As has been previously stated it is sometimes desirable thatmeans be provided so that the plow blade may be pivoted about a verticalaxis to throw dirt to the right or the left or straight ahead asdesired. may be tilted about its longitudinal axis to roll the dirt orother material to a greater or less degree, or about a transverse axisto make the lblade cut deeper at one end than at the other, or variouscombinations of these positions. In Figures 7, 9, and 10 I haveillustrated a structure which may be adjusted to these variouspositions. The actuating mechanism, actuating mechanism supports, andrear portions of the side frames are substantially the same.

In the structures shown in'Figures 7, 9, and 40 10 I preferably employangle or corner brackets |4| and |4|a corresponding substantially infunction to the brackets 44 previously described. These brackets |4| and|4|a are mounted on the front ends of tubular members |42 and |42a,corresponding to the tubular members 14. The brackets |4| and |4|a haveopenings |43 and |43a in the front faces thereof in order thattelescoping push poles |44 and |44a may be slidingly engaged within themembers |42 and 50 |42a and may project forwardly'therefrom to permitattachment thereof to the plow or scraper blade |46 as hereinafterdescribed.

In this trailbuilding structure I preferably connect the brackets |4|and |4|a by means of 55 tubular beams :|41 and` |41a and a nose bracket|48. The beams 4|41 and |41a are received in suitable sockets inbrackets |4| and |4|a and nose |48 and since the members |41 and |41aare disposed at an angle greater than with 60 respect to the members |42and |42a the structure may be referred to as an'A frame, the nose. |40beinglocated beyond the horizontal plane passing through brackets |4|and |4|a. A heavy bolt |5| passes through the nose |48 and the 65 boltis provided with a. forwardly projecting ear |52, which in turn isadapted to engage the ears |53 of a swivel bracket |54 located on therear face of the blade |43. The bolt |5| is provided with a heavy nut|56 and a washer |51 to engage 70 the rear face of the nose |48. Astructure substantially like the present structure is more particularlydescribed in Patent- No. 2,059,431 to Wendell D. Barrett and Edward R.Greer. It is apparent that the plowblade may tilt about a 75 transverseaxis, that is with one side lower than the other, through the agency ofthe bolt |5l, and that it may also be swung with one side or the otherto the rear to throw material to the right or left as desired, bypivoting it about on the pin |55.

It is very desirable, in orderto meet the heavy forces acting againstthe blade, that the blade be engaged to the A frame structure at bothends of the blade. A means for securing this result is shown in Figures'1, 9, and 10. The rearmost portion of the blade |46y is secured to theA frame by means of rearwardly projecting plates or ears |6| which arereceived in a pair of clevis-like ears or blade locks |62 on' bracketI4|. A pin |63 passes through the ears |6| and |62 to secure the ears inposition. Like cooperating ears |6|a and |62a,are provided on the otherend of the blade |46 and on the bracket |4|a, respectively, and when theblade is positioned with the other end to the rear, which we may termthe opposite "trailbui1ding position, the other end ot the blade issecured to the bracket I4 la by a pin similar to the pinl63, whichpasses through the respective ears |6|a and |62a.

The forward end of the blade is held in position and braced by means ofthe extended portion |44a of the push pole. The forward portion of thepush pole |44a, which may be termed a sleeve, is adapted, as has beenpreviouslyexplained, to be telescopically received in the cylindricalside frame member |42 a and when it is not in use it is located entirelywithin the member |42a. When it is in use as a push pole it is withdrawnfrom the member |42a and a hook |64a, on the inner end of the sleeve, isengaged within the tube |42a by a pin |66 which passes downwardlythrough the brackets |4|a. The front end of the sleeve |44a is connectedto the blade |46 by means of a'pin |61 which passes through the sidewall of the end plate |68a and through a suitable clevis member |69alocated within the front end of the sleeve |44a. The pin |61 is receivedwithin a suitable socket |1| in a bracket |12a on the rear end of theblade and the front end of the clevis member |69 bears against therearwall of the bracket |12a to assist in carrying the load imposed on thepush pole at this point. A similar structure including parts |4l, |44,|64, |66, |69, and |12 is provided for the other end of the blade.

'I'he blade ends |66 and |68a are so disposed, when in the advancedposition, as to present a flat face extending vertically over the end ofthe blade and approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of theearth moving device, and the sleeves |44 and |44a are preferablyprovided with means for receiving a removable plate |13, which platealso extends in a vertical plane at the outside of the sleeve |44a andparallel to the longitudinal axis of the earth moving device. These twoplates cooperate to bear against the earth left by the blade as it movesforward to prevent the earth moving device from being turned sideways bythe transversely acting component of the thrust set up on the blade asit moves material ahead of it. lThe blade ends |68 and |66a arepreferably toed in at approximately 3 to assist in preventing-thetractor from turning. This structure is a modication of a structure moreparticularly described in Patent No. 2,011,191 to Roy E. Choate andWaldo E. Rodier, and the structure as a whole is termed a land side orland slide.

It is sometimes desirable that the blade shown in the modiiicationillustrated in Figure 9 be positioned in a bulldozing position, that is,at right angles to the longitudinal'axis of the device. In this case thesleeves |44 and |44a are connected to the blade lock ears l6| and I 6|a,as shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, and pins |66 passed downwardlythrough suitable openings I14 in sleeves |44 and |44a. The clevisbrackets |69 and |69a, at the front ends of the sleeves |44 and |44a,are preferably vertically elongated to provide openings |16 and |18therethrough and the ear brackets 6| and |6la are likewise verticallyelongated and provided with a plurality of openings |11 therethrough inorder that when the blade is tilted to one side or the other, that iswith one side lower than the other, it may be held in place by pinspassed through corresponding openings |16 and |11. Some of the openings,such as those indicated at |11a, are elongated to permit securing theblade in extreme positions of tilt. In this way the blade may be tiltedabout a transverse axis and the sleeves |44 and |44a will hold it in thetilted position through the agency of the pins passed through openings|16 and |11.

.In the trailbuilding positions of the blade, illustrated in Figure`9,the blade may also be tilted as desired by pinning the blade locks |62and |62a to any desired openings in the ear 6| or |6|a, depending, ofcourse, on which end of the blade is to the rear. The forward end of theblade is braced by means of the push pole or sleeve |44 or |44a which issecured to the forward end of either of the side frame members |42 or|42a and corner brackets |43 or I43a by hooks |64 or |64a and pin |66,and at the forward end by pinning one of the clevises |69 or |69a to oneof the sockets afforded by brackets |12 or |12a. The push poles may betilted as desired in their engagement with the corner brackets |4| or|4|a to suit any desired position of tilt of the blade while in thetrailbuilding position.

It is apparent that numerous embodiments of my invention may be made bythose skilled in the art. Two of these modifications have beenillustrated in Figures 12 and 13. In the embodiment of the inventionshown in Figure 12 the same plow and plow supporting mechanisms andstructures have been employed. The supporting plates or support cranklevers 20| are of substantially the same form and construction as thesupporting plates or`levers 84 previously described except that the boss202 on the outer face of the outer support lever is placed lower down onthe lever and the upper edge of the lever has been cut away to theconcaved form shown. Another boss 203 is provided at the upper end ofthe lever or crank 20| and a similar boss is provided at the upper endof the inner lever 20|a. The hydraulic jack 204 is provided with acylindrical saddle 206 and this saddle is provided with trunnions 201which are adapted to be received in suitable openings in the bosses 203and 203a of cranks 20| and 20|a. An actuating lever or bell crank 2|| isprovided and this bell crank is pivotally attached to the plate 20| bymeans of a stub shaft 2|2 journaled in the plate 20| and boss 202. Arearwardly extending lever arm 2| la of the bell crank 2|| is providedwith a clevis-like portion 2|3 formed by providing a cranked extension 2I4 on the inner wall of the lever arm and joining the lever arm and theextension by means of a short shaft 2|6. The shaft 2|1 of the hydraulicjack 204-is provided with a fitting 2|8 adapted to engage the end of theshaft 2|1 andthe cross shaft 2|6 of crank 2| I.

-A forwardly extending portion 2| Ib of the bellporting and actuatingmechanism here described is duplicated on the other side of the tractor.

In operation of the device shown in Figure 12 when fluid is introducedinto the forward end oi the hydraulic jack 204 the piston rod 2|'| isforced outwardly to raise the front lever arm 2| Ib of bell crank 2| Ito raise the plow blade 224. When iiuid is. admitted to the rear end ofthe hydraulic jack 204 the piston rod 2|'| is drawn in to lower the plowblade 224. It is apparent that this structure is lighter than thestructure previously described. This structure is preferably used in`connection with smaller earth moving devices. v

Another embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Figure 13. In thisdevice also the same plow supporting mechanism is employed. The supportplates or support cranks 25| are of different shape than thosepreviously employed but they are secured to the sub-frames of thetractor in substantially the same manner'as before. In this device thehydraulic jack is mounted on pairs of support plates 25| at the extremeupper end thereof, with the jack in a vertical position and with thepiston rod 253 of the jack depending' below the jack. The jack 252 isprovided with a cylindrical saddle 254, similar to the saddle 206previously described, and this saddle is provided with trunnions 256which are adapted to bereceived in the plates 25| and bosses 251 in theupper ends of these plates. An actuating bell crank 258 is employedwhich is somewhat similar to the bell crank 2|| previously described.The short rearwardly extending arm 25611. of the bell crank 258 ispivotally engaged to a suitable connecting member 259 on the end of thepiston rod 253 by means of a pin 26|.

The forwardly extending portion 2581) of the bell crank 258 is pivotallyengaged to an ear 262 on the upper edge of the scraper blade 263 bymeans of a pin 264. An intermediate portion of the bell crank 258 ispivotally engaged on the inside of the plate 25| by means of a pin 266and a slot 261 in the bell crank. The pin 266 is provided with a roller260 so that the bell crank 258 may move back and forth to a limitedextent to compensate for the arc taken by the plow blade 263 as it movesup and down about the stub shaft 21|. The supporting and actuatingstructure is duplicated on the other side of the tractor.

It is apparent that when fluid is introduced into the upper end of thejack 252 the arm 258a of bell crank 258 will be forced downwardly tothus raise the arm 258D and thus raise the plow blade 263. When fluid isintroducedinto the lower-portion of the hydraulic pack 252 the arm 256ewill be raised and the arm 256D .lowered to lower the plow blade 263.

From the foregoing it is apparent that my invention is susceptible tonumerous variations and modifications. Such modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forthby the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an earth moving device including a tractor having sub-frames oneon either side thereof, a plow blade, means for pivotally engaging theplow blade with the sub-frames, support means engaged to the sub-framesand projecting one on each side of each running gear, cradle means forspacing apart the support means, the said cradle vmeans beingl pivotallymounted in the support means, and a hydraulic ram engaged to the cradle,and means for operatively connecting the shaft of the ram to the plowblade. A

2. In an earth moving device of the class described, a tractor havingsub-frames having xed and longitudinally movable portions on which therunning gears are mounted, covers for the sub-frames, side framesadapted to be Vpivotally engaged to the sub-frames, a plow blade mountedon the side frames at the front ends thereof,

supports engaged to the movable portions of the sub-frames and havingtorque arms extending adjacent the fixed portions of the sub-frames,

and plates having stub shafts for pivotally engaging the side frames,and the plates having means thereon for operatively engaging the torquearms ofthe support means, the plates l l jdraulic jacks for operatingthe bell cranks disposed between the pairs of plates.

4. In an earth moving device, a tractor, sub-l frames pivotally engagedto the tractor having fixed and movable portions, a. plow bladepivotally engaged to theA sub-frames, means for supporting and actuatingthe plow blade including supporting means engaged to the movableportions of the sub-frames and having rearwardly extending torque arms,and means on the xed portions of the sub-frames for engaging E.thetorque arms, said means including a link pivotally engaged to the xedportions and pivotally engaged to the torque arms.

5. An earth moving device comprising a'. tractor having a main frame anda truck frame on each side thereof, spaced plates mounted on each sideof a truck frame, an earth moving means extended in front of saidtractor, means for supporting said earth Amoving means for hingedmovement relative to said tractor, a power means mounted between saidplates, a bell crank hinged between said plates, means connecting onearm of saidl crank to said power means, and means joining the other armof said crank to said supporting means. v

6. An earth moving device comprising a tractor having a main frame and atruck frame on each side thereof, spaced plates mounted on each side ofa truck frame. an earth moving means extended in front of Said tractor,means :for supporting said earth moving meansv for hinged movementrelative to said tractor, a hydraulic cylinder mounted in trunnionsbetween said plates and including a piston'rod, a bell crank hingedbetween said plates, means connecting one arm of said crank to saidpiston rod, and

means joining the other arm of said crank to otally connected to thesub-frames, and an actuating mechanism positioned above each of thesub-frames, said actuating mechanism including vKabel1 crank and ahydraulic jack, and means for supporting each of the actuatingmechanisms from the sub-frames including spaced plate-like members andthe actuating mechanism being pivotally mounted between the spacedplate-like members.

8. In an earth moving device including a tractor, sub-frames forsupporting the tractor and running gears mounted on the sub-frames, anearth moving means including means for pivotally attaching the earthmoving means to the sub-frames, means for actuating the earth movingmeans including pairs of plates supported by the sub-frames, bell crankspivotally engaged between each pair of plates, hydraulic jacks foroperating the bell cranks also pivotally engaged between each pair ofplates, and links for connecting the free arms of the bell cranks to theearth movingmeans.

9. In an earth moving device comprising a tractor having a main frameand a track frame on each side thereof, spaced plates supported by eachtrack frame, an earth moving means extended in front of said tractor,means for supporting said earth moving means for hinged movementrelative to said tractor, the said plates being formed and modified toconstitute plates extending upwardly above the track frames in spacedrelation, a jack disposed between the upwardly extending plates andpivotally engaged in bearings supported by the upwardly extendingplates, a bell crank also pivotally engaged in bearings supported by theplates, the ram of the jack being pivotally engaged to one arm of thebell crank, and a link connection between the earth moving means and theother arm of the bell crank.

10. In an earth moving device including a tractor having sub-frames andrunning gears mounted on the sub-frames, a plow blade, means forpivotally engaging the plow blade to the subframes, means for actuatingthe plow blade including plates projecting upwardly on either side of'the running gears and attached to the subframes, and plow actuatingmeans pivotally mounted between the plates.

11. An earth moving device comprising a tractor having a main frame anda track frame on each side thereof, a pair of plates mounted oneachtrack frame, an earth moving means extended n iront of said tractor,means for supporting said 'earth moving means for hinged movementrelative to said tractor, a power means mounted between said plates, abell crank hinged between said plates, means connecting one arm of saidcrank to said power means, and means joining the other arm of saidcrankttosaid supporting means.

12. In an earth moving device including a tractor, sub-frames forsupporting the tractor, running gears mounted on the sub-frames, earthmoving means including means for connecting the earth moving means tothe sub-frames, means for actuating the earth moving means includingpairs of plates supported by and projecting upwardly above each of therunning gears, a bell crank and a hydraulic jack pivotally supportedbetween respective pairs of plates, means to pivotally connect eachcrank to an adjacent jack, and means for connecting the free ends of thebell cranks with the earth moving means.

ELLSWORTH W. ASTIN.

